Wish You Were Here
Wish You Were Here is a play by Iranian-American playwright Sanaz Toossi, directed by Sivan Battat. Set in Karaj beginning in 1978, on the eve of the Iranian Revolution, it follows Salme and her four closest friends as a wedding celebration gives way to a decade of political upheaval, changing relationships, and difficult choices about the futures they will build. The play explores Iranian diaspora through the perspective of those who remain, combining sharp humor, emotional insight, and adult comedy.
The production features an ensemble cast led by Layan Elwazani as Salme, with Ellen Nikbakht, Ellena Eshraghi, Shadee Vossoughi, Ari Derambakhsh, and Ege Yalcinbas. It is presented in English and runs without an intermission.
When: September 23 through November 8, 2026
Showtimes: October 17 at 2:00 PM and 8:00 PM; October 18 at 2:00 PM and 7:00 PM; October 21 and 22 at 7:30 PM; October 23 at 8:00 PM; October 24 at 2:00 PM and 8:00 PM; October 25 at 2:00 PM and 7:00 PM; October 28 and 29 at 7:30 PM; October 30 at 8:00 PM; October 31 at 2:00 PM and 8:00 PM; November 1 at 2:00 PM; November 4 and 5 at 7:30 PM; November 6 at 8:00 PM; November 7 at 2:00 PM and 8:00 PM; and November 8 at 2:00 PM.
Tickets: Price not available
Venue: Mead Theatre at Studio Theatre
Playwright: Sanaz Toossi, an Iranian-American playwright and winner of the 2023 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Her other noted play English received five Tony Award nominations.
Director: Sivan Battat, a theatre director and cultural organizer whose Studio Theatre credits include Problems Between Sisters and Heroes of the Fourth Turning. Battat also directed an earlier production of Wish You Were Here at Yale Repertory Theatre.
Cast: Ellen Nikbakht as Nazanin; Layan Elwazani as Salme; Ellena Eshraghi as Zari; Shadee Vossoughi as Shideh; Ari Derambakhsh as Rana; and Ege Yalcinbas as New Friend.
Understudies: Ege Yalcinbas covers Nazanin, Shideh, and Rana. Katie Ganem covers Salme, Zari, and New Friend.
Run time: 105 minutes with no intermission.
Environmental warnings: The production includes loud noises, moving lights, and water vapor from simulated smoking.
Ages: No age restriction or minimum age is listed. The production includes adult humor and dirty jokes.
Late seating: Late seating is handled at the discretion of House Management.
Childcare matinee: A childcare matinee is scheduled for October 17 at 2:00 PM in partnership with the National Children’s Theatre. Childcare services are available during this performance.
Additional programming: Artists in Conversation discussions follow the 2:00 PM matinees on October 4 and October 10, with artists from the production discussing the show.
Design and production team: The scenic design is by Omid Akbari, costume design by Shahrzad Mazaheri, lighting design by Nic Vincent, projections design by Doaa Ouf, sound design by Kenny Neal, dramaturgy by Adrien-Alice Hansel, production stage management by John Keith Hall, and casting by Katja Zarolinski, CSA.
Community partners: The production’s community partners are the Iranian-American Community Center, also known as Pars Place, and the Persian Studies Program at the University of Maryland, College Park.
Support: The production is underwritten by Albert Lauber and by Craig Hoffman, Teresa Schwartz, and Dan Schwartz.